SAHIBGANJ

LOCATION & GEOGRAPHICAL AREA

The district of Sahibganj lies approximately between 240 42' north and 250 21' north lattitude and
between 870 25' and 870 54 east longitude. Sahibganj is the administrative headquarter of the district and
situated on the bank of the river Ganges at 250 15' north lattitude and 870 38' east longitude . The
geographical area of the district is 1599.00 sq. km.. It is bounded on north by the river Ganges and district
of Katihar, on the south by the district Godda, on the east by Maldah and Murshidabad districts of the
state of West Bengal, and on the west by Bhagalpur and Godda districts.

TOPOGARPHY
A large part of the district is hilly. The vast tract of land enclosed between hill ranges had been assigned
a name- Damin-I-koh, which is a Persian word means Skirts of the hills. The region on the bank of the
Ganges is fertile and richly cultivated. The district may be divided into two natural divisions on the basis
of its geographical location and cultivable land. First region consists of Borio, Mandro, Barhait, Pathna
and Taljhari blocks and lies under Damin-I-koh area.

The hills and slopes are covered with forests, once dense but scanty now. The valleys have cultivable
lands, yielding mostly paddy. The inhabitants of this region are generally Paharias, Mal Paharias and
Santhals. The inhabitants on the hill top cultivate Barbatti and maize using rain water. The second region
consists of Sahibganj, Rajmahal, Udhwa and Barharwa blocks. This plain region consists of the uplands,
undulation along ridges and depressions.

The Ganges, Gumani and Bansloi rivers flow through this region. This area has plenty of fertile lands
and is richly cultivated. The inhabitants of this region are mainly middle class people of different castes,
Paharias and Santhals..

Public Health
a) Allopathic Hospital 2010-11 Nos. 10
b) Beds in Allopathic Hospital 400
c) Ayurvedic Hospital 01
d) Beds in Ayurvedic Hospital 05
e) Unani Hospital -
f) Community Health Centers -
g) Primary Health Centers 27
h) Dispensaries 58
i) Sub health centers 02
j) Private Hospitals 01

S.NO. PARTICULAR YEAR UNIT STATISTICS

 Banking Commercial
a) Commercial Bank Nos. 50
b) Rural Bank Products Nos. 13
c) Co-operative Bank Nos. 17
Products
d) PLDB Branches Nos. 04
Education Nos.
a) Primary School Nos. 728
b) Middle School Nos.
c) Secondary & Senior Nos. 15
Secondary Schools
d) Colleges Nos. 05
e) Technical University Nos. -

AVAILABILITY OF MINERALS
The Rajmahal Hills are the source of building and road stones. Most of the quarrying is done by the side
of the loop line of the Eastern Railway. Pakur chips are quite well known and are used extensively all
over Jharkhand, Bihar and parts of West Bengal. Kaolin is found near Mangal Hat in Rajmahal
subdivision. Bentonite available in some places is used by women-folk as hair washing material and now
a days it is getting popular among urban ladies as Multani Mitti.

FOREST
Owing to large scale unscrupulous felling the region once known for its thick and extensive forests is
now bereft of much of its jungle wealth. The Forest department has undertaken afforestation of these
areas. The most common tree found in the district is sal (Shorea Robusta). Some teak, though not of good
quality, is also found. Some other trees found in the district are Jackfruit, Murga, Simal, Bamboo, Asan
and Satsal. Sal and Simal logs and Jackfruit are exported in large quantities to the neighboring districts
and also to the places outside Jharkhand.

INDUSTRY
The traditional cottage and village industries practiced by the Santhals and the Paharias constitute tasar
rearing, village black-smithy, carpentry, handloom weaving, rope making, bidi making, earthen ware
making, stone ware making, etc. There is no large-scale industry available in the area mainly due to lack
of infrastructure support. A number of small-scale industries have been set up in the district. Most of
these are based on mining and related querying activities. There is a good potential for setting up china
clay industries.
DETAILS OF EXISTING MICRO & SMALL ENTERPRISES AND ARTISAN UNITS IN
THE DISTRICT:

NIC
CODE TYPE OF INDUSTRY NUMBER OF INVESTMENT EMPLOYMENT
NO. UNITS ( LAKH Rs.)
Agro Based 205 105.5 556
Soda Water - - -
Cotton /Readymade 144 18.36 312
Garment
Woolen, Silk & artificial - - -
Thread based clothes
Jute & Jute based - - -
Ready-made Garments & - - -
Embroidery
Wood/Wooden based 846 345.0 1080
furniture
Paper & Paper Products - - -
Leather based - - -
Chemical / Chemical 58 245.0 162
based
Rubber, Plastic & Petro - - -
Based
Mineral based 256 582.4 3580
Metal based(Steel Fab.) - - -
Engineering Units 182 178.4 630
Electrical Machinery and 88 74.8 196
Transport equipment&
Electronic
Repairing & Servicing 36 20.5 72
Others 502 2.5 438
Kachori making - - -

TRADEANDCOMMERCE
Sahibganj is by far the most important place for trade and commerce in the district. Wholesale trading in
foodgrains is mostly carried on in Sahibganj. The main imports of the districts are linseed, mustard seed,
tobacco, raw cotton, sugar, refined and unrefined molasses, salt, kerosene oil, coal, coke, gunny bags,
gram, wheat and maize. The main exports are paddy, jawar, sabai, grass, stone chips, hides, fibers, kaolin
and bentonite.

COMMUNICATION
 a) Roads :- The district has good network of roadways. The river Ganges provides water link also for
such purposes. No important place in the district is left unconnected by a metalled road. The Jamtara-
Dumka-Sahibganj road provides a link with Assam after ferry across the Ganges. The road between
Farakka and Bhagalpur has been upgraded as National Highway.

b) Railways :- The district is deprived of adequate railway communication as it lies on the Howrah-
Bhagalpur loop line. Both the sub-divisional headquarters have railway stations. Presently there is rail
connection for Howrah, New Delhi and Patna.

c) Waterways :- The only navigable waterways is the river Ganges. There are ferry services across the
river Ganges between Sahibganj ghat to Manihari Ghat in Katihar district of Bihar, which is directly
linked to the Guwahati highway and between Rajmahal ghat to Manikchak ghat in Maldah district of
West Bengal.

ELECTRICITYANDPOWER
The district receives most of the power supply from the Super Thermal Power Station at Kahalgaon.
While all the main areas of the district have been electrified still the supply of power in the rural areas is
not yet sufficient and is an area of major concern.

LARGE SCALE INDUSTRIES / PUBLIC SECTOR UNDERTAKINGS

List of units in Near by Sahibganj area

1. NTPC, Farakka, West Bengal

2. NTPC, Kahalgaon, Bihar

3. ECL, Pakur, Jharkhand

Potential areas for service Industry

1) Training Programmes may be organized for unemployed & Interested youths on repairing of Power
Tillers / tractors and farm equipments. They may be provided escort services to set up repairing units
at different block areas with bank loan under PMEGP etc
2) There is also good potential for setting up cold Storages
3) There is also good potential for setting up Ceramic based Industries such as Terracotta, Pottery etc.
4) Sahibganj district is bounded on north by the river Ganges and district of Katihar, on the south by
the district Godda, on the east by Maldah and Murshidabad districts of the state of West Bengal, and
on the west by Bhagalpur and Godda districts. Sahibganj is by far the most important place for trade
and commerce in the district. Wholesale trading in foodgrains is mostly carried on in Sahibganj.
5) The main imports of the districts are linseed, mustard seed, tobacco, raw cotton, sugar, refined and
unrefined molasses, salt, kerosene oil, coal, coke, gunny bags, gram, wheat and maize. The main
exports are paddy, jawar, sabai, grass, stone chips, hides, fibers, kaolin and bentonite. Ceramic based
MSMEs have good potential at Sahibganj.
DETAILS OF MALOR CLUSTERS MANUFACTURING SECTOR:
1) Sahibganj district contains under large number of stone mines and crushers. Approximately 80 mines
and 150 crushers are in operation with the support of huge labour force. Black stones of Sahibganj are of
the superior quality and they are also exported in the South Asian countries. In the absence of major
industries and employment opportunities the economic options are limited to agriculture.

2) Sahibganj district contains under large number of Pottery industry and Clay washing industry.
Approximately 100 mines and 200 Pottery and clay washing industries are in operation with the support
of huge labour force. Kaoline and Bentonite of Sahibganj are of the superior quality and they are also
exported in the South Asian countries. In the absence of major industries and employment opportunities
the economic options are limited to agriculture.

Present Status of the Cluster

Sahibganj, famous for Clay washing, Pottery industry, is one of the important revenue-earning district of
newly created Jharkhand state. Its Kaolene and Bentonite have got Asiatic fame in constructional
qualities. They are exporting Bentonit and china clay, in the south Asian countries. No cluster
development activities have been taken up to sort out the problems of common interest.

Though Sahibganj – unlike some other parts of Jharkhand – is not rich in minerals, yet minerals such as
coal, china clay, fire clay, quartz, silica sand, and glass sand etc are found here. Industrially, the district,
however, is not developed. But in respect of mines, Sahibganj is famous for Stone, Pottery, Clay Washing
industry.

Approximately 80 mines and 150 crushers and 250 pottery & clay washing industries are in operation
where around twenty two thousand labourers are engaged.

In the absence of major industries and employment opportunities, the economic options are limited to
agriculture. Stone chiops, pottery and clay washing manufacturing are the sources of income generation
for a significant proportion of the people of the district. Poultry farming, piggery, animal husbandry and
fisheries also provide supplementary income. The quality of livestock, however, is very poor. The cows
are of local variety and the average milk yield is low. As a result, their contribution to the family income
is almost insignificant but there is a scope for enhancing income from animal husbandry